I know. Not so impressive, considering the “real” one was made of metal and CGI’d. And it is expensive too; the entire getup sets you back $1,099. But for that, you do actually get what appears to be a functional motorcycle suit. There’s CE armor, thick leather and stretch inserts that will enable you to move around your bike.

The entire suit comprises of six individual pieces. The jacket and pants are separate. And then you got the pair of gloves and boots.

According to the website, the suit have etreme form molded leather detailing, pearl red and silver aluminum metallic leather, light sensitive reflective accents, and heavy duty stretch spandex inserts.

Unfortunately the suit doesn’t collapse neatly into a brief case. It is made from grade A cowhide, breathable mesh cordura, and has a removable interior vest.

Cool enough. But I want to know is, WTF is the helmet? That’s the coolest part of the costume. Oh well, I guess I could always contact the maker of the one from the video below.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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So today, I will be giving you an overview of the SHIFT Racing Redline Leather Pants sent over to us to test out. Check them out.

Like I said, the pants are made of 1.2-1.4mm premium grain dual layer leather for superior abrasion resistance and comfort. There is also perforated leather accordion panels in key flex areas for unrestricted movement.They come with removable CE approved knee armor for impact protection.

What’s cool is the semi auto lock zippers in the lower leg to retain strength and closure in the event of a crash. There is also a lycra inset panel attached to the back of the liner that ensures the liner stretch works in unison with the external accordion to avoid pressure and pulling in the cockpit.

Be sure to check these out featured in our 2011 Annual issue.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Sure, you can ride a bike in just about any shoes, but anyone who rides regularly can benefit from shoes designed specifically for motorcycling.

What type of footwear you purchase stems from what type of riding you do. For regular street use, I would recommend street riding shoes (duh). Make sure your brand has a high ankle design because it aids protection while a low-cut Achilles area allows for maximum foot flex.
Proper street riding shoes should come standard with toe protectors and toe sliders, injection moulded heel and ankle support, and abrasion resistance everywhere.

I know some of you may be tempted just to buy regular heavy duty boots for your street riding, but I can say that they will not offer the same protection in the case of an accident. While leather and rubber is durable, it just won’t stand up to the abuse that crashing doles out as well as a shoe that is designed to do just that.

Think about it this way, you would not wear running shoes while playing tennis, would you? Of course not. the court will tear right through the toes and heel areas.

If you are a track day addict or a professional racer, then I would suggest the full race boot. I really don’t have much to suggest here with out being biased to my favorite brands, but make sure they meet the highest standards. You only have two feet!

Stay tuned for more updates.

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The Dainese D-Air has actually been in development for racers for over a decade. The road system will be very similar, but will use altered data points that are more appropriate for real world riding.

It’s also unclear what the different applications for the two different airbag systems pictured above are. The one on the left is very similar to the Alpinestars TechAir in that it only covers the shoulders, neck and collarbone. The picture on the right expands the safety across the back and chest. The D-Air is designed to inflate inside a suit or jacket.

Here is a video:

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Just like the SHIFT Racing RPM gloves I reviewed before, the Dynasty gloves are also of the short cuff-style. However, these are made of full leather for optimal protection and abrasion resistance.

The Dynasty gloves are made to fit women’s hands specifically but these were a bit long in the fingers for me. I received a size small just like the RPM gloves, so I thought it strange that the sizing was different. However, after I grabbed the handlebars or basically balled up my hands, the gloves seemed to slide in place. Perhaps it was made this way?

Other than that the gloves are pretty standard in their safety features. They have integrated knuckle armor for impact and abrasion resistance, premium leather palms with reinforced padding, and pre-curved leather finger sidewalls to alleviate bunching.

The embossed Airprene wrist cuffs provides optimal comfort and range of movement, and the gloves secure with hook and loop wrist closure.
The thumb and finger panels are also perforated for added air flow and comfort.

These gloves are great for MX style riding or for use as a passenger, but I think I am looking next for a pair of full gauntlet style gloves for street riding. But hey, for a mere retail value of $49.95, you really can’t go wrong with these.

Sizes available: XS-L

Stay tuned for more updates.

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The jacket was designed for superior performance in the race position. The back is longer to cover your ass crack. LOL! Just kidding. No, really.

The stretch panels on the arms are called KorMax stretch Aramid panels for flexibility and even some abrasion resistance.

I also forgot to mention that the removable vest liner is washable. The ergonomic zipper pullers are customized for ease of use.

The best feature, I still think, is the semi-auto lock zippers in the forearms that provide strength and closure in the event of a crash.

There are also reflective black piping integrated in to numerous seams for greater night visibility.

Not too shabby!

Stay tuned for more updates. I have to go riding in my new jacket!

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Since I pretty much showed you all the features of the glove in the video, let me give you a little background on the company. SHIFT Racing is based in Morgan Hill, California. They entered the motorcycling scene back in 1997 and have grown into an international brand, producing innovative riding apparel for markets around the world.

Their target riders are those looking for something unique, so they focus on fusing the creative influences from the world of motocross and sportbike lifestyle into all of their stylish performance products.

Be sure to pick up our next issue, where we have the hottest models pimping their SHIFT Racing gear!

Stay tuned for more updates.

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The suit is designed in a segmented armor fashion, allowing for great ease of movement. The body armor comes with dense leather and leather-like materials, and even incorporates Kevlar in the suit. All theses bits are not exactly Batman quality materials so don’t expect to be Wu Shu-ing bad guys in it.

The bladed fins found on Batman’s sleeves are the same on the replica suit. Practical, no. Badass, definitely. Awesome, for sure!

So where can we get a suit? Well sorry to say, the suit has been sold out, but Batman boots are still available. Even the gloves are out of stock. If you can find a suit on eBay, more power to you, but Universal Designs Ltd. is done with this leather tribute to the Caped Crusader.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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While I am sure that it was made to go under a suit, the Dainese Jacket Wave Pro is the safest you can practically and comfortably make your upper body on the road on those really hot days.

Combining protection for the neck, chest and shoulder blades with the usual elbow/shoulder/back stuff is what makes this system special, but the aluminum honeycomb-core armor doesn’t hurt either.

Yes, I will say again, this was meant to go under your regular leathers. But on these r4eally hot days, I am glad I have another option. No, I’m not endorsing it, but I’m glad I have the option just to put this on. At my own discretion of course.

For all you out there that may feel too San Franciscan for just wearing this alone, not to worry. All of this protection is incorporated into Dainese’s high-end jackets. They are also available in component form.

Alright guys, stay tuned for more updates.

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The Italian safety gear maker has designed a chest protector just for women. Like the men’s protector, it’s designed to cushion impacts and prevent penetration (no pun intended? -Ed), protecting the ribs, lungs, heart and all the other organs in there.

Unlike the men’s protector however, the Dainese Thorax Pro Lady (the one with the straps) and the Dainese Thorax Lady are also designed not only to accommodate, but to protect breasts too. Sorry, fat dudes… The one with the straps will work underneath most jackets and leathers, but the strapless version is designed to attach to a Dainese back protector. Ladies, take it from us, your breasts are worth protecting!

Stay tuned for more updates!

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The multiple stitching throughout on all major seams insure maximum tear and abrasion resistance. The flexible stretch panels make for a pre curved sports fit. It also has an aerodynamic race hump, replaceable track knee sliders, and airflow punched leather panels for optimum rider comfort. Check it out!

These are available in men’s sizes: 38-48 and five different colors. Stay tuned for more updates!

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Based on the already high-end Pavillon helmet, which includes a carbonfiber shell, and nappa lambskin lining, the Spongebob edition is available in both Europe and the USA, but only 200 will ever be produced.

It’s that exclusivity which likely explains the $1,200 price tag (regular Pavillon’s sticker for around $700). Whoo wee! But not to worry folks, if that’s too rich for you, there’s also a $180 silk Spongebob scarf!

As with wearing any helmet for extended periods of time, whether they be open faced or full faced helmets, be sure to moisturize and clean your face regularly. Be especially careful of the area on your cheeks where the helmet pads touch them. Sweat and grime and accumulate and clog your pores. I found that nuskin products are pretty good. Check out their Twitter page for quality information about quality skin and hair products.

Anyways, happy new year and, as always stay tuned for more updates!

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It is obvious that reflective clothing and helmets increase safety at night, but they’re often not used because they make you look like a dork.

However, paint like this, is available from 3M and many other companies here in the States. While these could be incorporated into helmet designs straight from the factory with little to no effect on their daytime looks, it’s just not done here for some reason. We just hope to see better integrated designs than these lame looking flames in the future.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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For now, some early observations:

The Olympia Ranger 2’s are, to me, just like those freaky Aeron office chairs that hit the market a few years back. They look alien and uncomfortable, and even after a few minutes you’re not sure if these things are all they’re cracked up to be. But soon, as it begins to dawn on you that there’s something more to the package than unsettling looks, you become vaguely aware that these pants – like those ultra-ergonomic Aeron chairs – know more about your body than you do.

Rugged Cordura material with tough stitching and plenty of padding make these pants, first and foremost, safer than any plainclothes alternative when it comes to asphalt surfing. This safety should be the buyer’s number one priority.

Everything else boils down to user friendliness. The pants are waterproof and windproof, yet comfortably breathable. Any seam that might let moisture in has been protected by extra material (which is to say the fly doesn’t leak); meanwhile, the pants come with an eight-inch jacket attachment zipper in back, for those of you out there who regularly ride through monsoons….

The four oversized pockets up top and a bellows pocket on each thigh are big enough to get your hands into with your gloves on. I know! Science, right? Try that in a pair of leathers. The Ranger 2’s also unzip all the way up to the waist, although having only recently learned to tie my shoes by myself, I rarely bother with this feature. (Buyer’s tip: the first time you try zipping the pants back on, don’t do it in public.) And while the pants do come with a decent liner, I find I like wearing my jeans a lot more.

On the bike, the Ranger 2’s are roomy and comfortable, cool enough despite the weatherproofing that you can wear them on days when you wouldn’t even look at your leathers.

Ultimately, it’s important to keep in mind that these are general-purpose riding pants, and to that end they’ve performed well so far. Certainly, they’re bulky, but to me, these $200 pants do two things: spare you the four- to eight-week recovery time from a heartfelt low-side wipeout (and all wipeouts are heartfelt). And they remind you to ride like your skin is on the line. Fair play, Olympia.

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The double-stitched seams and Velcro wrist closure have been holding up pretty well, as has much of the material.

Unfortunately, the part that is showing wear-and-tear is the part that’ll take the brunt of any crash test that you (hopefully never) put these babies through. The synthetic leather palms and the fingers are looking threadbare. In fact, when I held up a half-peace-sign in traffic the other day, my middle finger broke right through!

Okay, that’s not entirely true. Fact is I can’t spare a hand when riding the
Daytona. What is true is that normal street riding (no crashes) has worn open the middle finger and killed these gloves before their time. Now I’m going to give you two additional items to think about: one, they have no wrist protection. I haven’t seen a lot of skinned wrists in my day, but it’s food for thought.

Two, here is a photo posted on a Honda forum, showing what even a little low-speed asphalt surfing will do to your Alpinestars SMX gloves.

The IPM team has either used these gloves past their expected durability, or they’re not meant for much more than nominal epidermal protection. Next week we’ll see how those carbon-fiber knuckle guards handle being run over by an SUV. In the meantime, I’d say take the hit and upgrade to Alpinestars’ SPS line of gloves. They’ve got thicker leather and a Kevlar palm. If you manage to burn through THAT… send me an email. I wanna know how fast you were going.

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Always scrounging around for a helmet whenever I went out to ride had left me hard pressed to purchase my first helmet. As a young rider, I have a limited budget to spend on motorcycle gear, but for this, I was going to make a heavy exception. I was going to purchase a quality helmet that I could use for a while, that also doesn’t look too shabby.

At the store, I was fitted for my head’s distinct size and shape. I ended up confused that trying on X-Larges from one brand to pronounce them a perfect fit, then also trying on Larges from another brand that seemed to feel the same size. After learning the lesson of the one size too big gloves I bought earlier this year, I decided to mark a large from Suomy that felt a little snug as my number one choice.

The model of choice was the Suomy Gunwind, which cost around $300-400 at the local retail store price, which hardly fits into my personal category for an acceptable price range, but at the same time a reasonable buy for the motorcycle aficionado who doesn’t want to spend the upper half of five to six bills on helmets from Shoei or Arai.

I warn the reader that if you are a college student like me, living off financial aid and grants, that unless you are a devoted motorcycle enthusiast, who wants to live off Ramen for the next three weeks until next month’s check, you should look for a used or an older model of this helm. Good thing this particular helmet belonged to an older brother…

Now, the specifications of this helmet are easily found online, so I’ll get into the nitty-gritty parts of this review, what really matters: the intimate details that other reviews simply do not provide.

I’ve been browsing normal and intricate racer replicas for the incomparable look they give you in the public, not to mention the extra flash and dazzle it would throw at the local college hotties. I saw several different blazing styles and colors of the Gunwind model online, but I still chose the old Max Biaggi Ducati replica, not only because it was in the office, but because it was the best looking one (I have good taste! -Ed).

I have what people would say, an interestingly shaped head. Suomy brand models were the only ones that actually fit me, and comfortably too. After persuading my brother (who has a different head shape) to give me the helmet, we both discovered that the helmet was still both snug and comfy compared to the other model shapes. Riding at my maximum speed of 35 mph (40 mph downhill!) down Sloat Boulevard, the helmet not only kept me cool, but completely devastated the moistness that usually accompanied my face and the helm I was using before to almost nothing.

Well that’s all I can say about the helmet for now, see you guys in a few months for an update on this helmet after I’ve given this one a bit of intense workout, and let’s see if the helmet was really worth this price (You owe me -Ed).

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This is my first pair of gloves that I casually selected at the local shop, which Alpinestars was cool enough to send over, as well as my first review on Inline Performance Magazine. The vendor showed me this pair as my first fit, slowly working his way up in price as he noticed my inexperience in choosing gear with more expensive upgrades. Countless models later, I decided to return to the first pair shown. Why? Being a college student, this pair not only gives in to the price budget I had allotted, but I discovered later that this would be a glove that I would hold on to for the years of riding later.

I hated wearing these gloves because the vendor insisted that I buy a size that was tightly fit around my hands. It turns out that after a couple times of riding that the gloves would break into the perfect fit. The gloves are astonishingly warm, giving it a perfect selection for cool weather riding, common in the Bay Area. They are made with full grain leather for comfort. The carbon fiber knuckle protection not only gives resistance and protection, but gives an extraordinarily beautiful finish to the gloves. The whole addition of this piece along with the intricate array of stitched seams with the suede finish on the palm turns out into a striking pair of gloves that gives the best overall protection and grip for the gloves at this price range.

As a novice rider, I don’t have much to compare to other gloves at the moment, besides the option of fitting myself with a bunch of store models. But I can definitely say to the prospective rider, that as a first glove, this is a must have. As a beginner, you often look towards the design of the model, rather than noticing the specs of the gear that would actually do what the glove is supposed to do: protect your hands. Not only do these full-gauntlet gloves satisfy the exterior beauty of the piece, they also give the full protection listed earlier: the extra knuckle protection, the extra layers of leather given to what looks like a weak palm protection, and not to mention all the padding inside the gloves that you don’t find in the more expensive models where it seems like, the lighter they are, the more expensive they become.

As a review, it is fair to find some cons in the model. And after thinking from all the angles on which could possibly make any complaint, I only came up with one. The complaint that I have so far, is the fact that the gloves are very snug. In hot weather that you would find heading down to Los Angeles, the gloves give little ventilation gives it a little bit of an uncomfortable feeling. But hey, this is to be expected when you are wearing full leather gloves.

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I had a red textile Dainese for the last two years which I was basically swimming in. You guessed it, I picked it up the same day as my oversized KBC. I had just passed the MSF riding safety course and Cycle Gear gave me a good discount, if you flash them your certificate of completion. I had just bought my first bike and I was itching to get on the damn thing. The point of contention is that I could understand how the sales guys could have missed the poor fit on the helmet, but there was no way that jacket fit me when I walked out of the store. I was sold the wrong product.

Two years later, inspired once again by the Speedy to upgrade, I approached they guys at Cycle Gear and brought up this point. There was nothing technically wrong with the jacket. I felt I had gotten kind of screwed on the deal. If they had sold me the right size in the first place, I wouldn’t have a reason to upgrade. I wasn’t 100% satisfied and I wanted some retribution. I went back and forth with the sales guy for a couple of days and built up my case, asking him to bring it up with his manager. They were willing to take my jacket back and give me partial credit towards the purchase of new one, and when I pressed a little further, I was able to knock off the sales tax. In the end, I got my hands on a beautiful black summer Dainese leather jacket for a little under $280. Which in my book, is an incredible deal. The new jacket fits like a glove and looks great. Eeeeeyiii! On some day,s it’s a little cold for the Bay Area as its perforated, but Duh,it is a summer jacket.

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In fact, I’m still digging through old clothes that I suppose I had intended to have gotten fat for sitting in storage. Unfortunately, this had been applied to the purchase of my first helmet, a KBC which I had bought on the same day of my oversized jacket.

I didn’t have much to compare the sizing to at that point and my pace on a bike had been limited to displacement, so it really wasn’t detail I noticed. At this last Moto-Expo, I stopped by the Service Pavilion and got sized up for an un-godly expensive Arai and I was informed that I had a small head. I shook it off as a sales pitch but it was when I started riding Speedy when it started becoming a problem.

After two years of abuse, time had taken it’s toll on my KBC. The cheek pads weren’t holding on as well as they had and when I took the bike out over 80 MPH and the helmet started lifting off my head. The only thing keeping the view straight was my nose as the air flow was getting caught between my head and the helmet. It was time to upgrade.

The search for the right helmet is about as personal as shopping around for the right bike. The variance of choice is about as broad as your individual budget. After dealing with a second rate helmet manufacturer (Sorry KBC) I wanted to shirk the restrictions of price for once and get some equipment that satisfied. After a weeks of research and fittings, I settled on a Shoei. I didn’t need a top of the line, feather weight racing helmet (at least not yet) nor was I interested in dropping the kind of $$$ for a product that’s basically designed for two years of use.

The RF-1000 was the right hat for the job so to speak. I took a trip down to San Jose, and picked up the Camino version. I swapped out the stock cheek pads for a size down (37) for a customized fit, which is actually a little annoying. How can Shoei expect you to drop your hard earned money on a helmet and sell you a better fit for an additional price?

Nonetheless, I could immediately tell the difference. The build is quality, the ventilation works as promised and it weighs a fraction of the KBC. The fit is comfortable and the spoiler keeps the wind off. The shape allows for holding a race position comfortably for longer rides. Basically I’m sold, and I’ll never go back now.

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What’s up guys? I’ve got some exciting news for you hardcore speed demons. Cars have airbags right? When are motorcycles going to carry them? Well, we have seen the Dainese airbag suit video a while back, but looks like Spidi may beat them to production.

Not quite as well known here in the states, Spidi has unveiled its new neck airbag system, which will go on sale in 2010 after 15 years of development.

The Neck DPS (Dispositivo Pneumatico di Sicurezza, or pneumatic safety device in English) system works using a wire which will be connected to the bike.

The circular wire connects under the seat of your motorcycle. If a violent jolt removes the wire the airbag inflates. I know what you are all thinking: What about accidental inflation? Say, in the form of a speed bump?

Spidi assures us that there is no risk of activating the airbag by mistake, because 25KN of energy is required to trigger it.

Pietro Zanetti, the head honcho of Spidi’s Safety Lab, assured us media folk that; “For more than 10 years we have worked on reducing the weight and activation time of the DPS.” Guess, whatever Mr. Zanetti says, goes.

“The result obtained, is a new product with higher performance than expected: weight reduction of 60%, sped up activation time by 50% and a complete reconfiguration of ergonomics and geometry.”

I’ve got one thing to say to Spidi: Send a few suits over Spidi! Question, though. Are they available in women’s sizes and shapes?

I guess guys make better crash test dummies anyways. We will let you guys make the first test run. And then, if it’s safe, Spidi can start making them for women.

Just kidding there folks. Spidi has yet to release the MSRP to one of these units. Stay tuned!

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Courtesy of Motonation

Motonation, the exclusive USA importer for Sidi boots is pleased to announce an all new, and for the motorcycle market, an innovative “expanded warranty” on select models of Sidi boots. Motonation’s President Bill Berroth explains: “Sidi boots are arguably the finest motorcycle boots in the world. As such it is rare when a Sidi boot has a problem out of the box but if there is a defect those are covered by Sidi’s standard 2-year warranty. This new “expanded warranty” expands coverage to include crash damage etc, truly a first for the moto industry!”

The details:

* Available for purchase ($49.99) to customers who buy a Sidi Vortice, Vortice Air, Vertigo, Vertigo Air, Vertigo Rain, Vertigo Lei, Vertigo Mega Gore Tex, Crossfire or Charger boot.
* Expands the standard 2-year warranty from purchase date to also include crash damage, damage from ripping or tearing due to catching on something, even pet damage after your dog chews them up!
* Expanded warranty must be purchased within one week of boot purchase to be valid.
* Expanded warranty is non-transferable and only one boot exchange (at Motonation’s option) is covered.
* This program, or the standard warranty, do not cover:
o Boots will not be replaced because of a decline in their appearance due to normal wear and tear or customer neglect.
o Soles that have worn out and need replacement or damage caused by the rider not replacing the sole or sole inserts in a timely manner.
o Scuff pads on road race boots or damage caused by the rider not replacing these scuff pads in a timely manner.
o Replacement off road boot straps that are needed because the rider did not tighten the straps properly and thus lost them.
* Boots will be repaired or replaced at Motonation’s option. If Motonation replaces a boot the old boot becomes the property of Motonation.
* Motonation pays the freight costs back to the customer. Inbound freight, if any, is the customer’s responsibility.
Program is subject to change or cancellation at any time however those who have bought a policy will always be covered as promised.

Consumers (or dealers on the consumer’s behalf) may purchase the Sidi Expanded Warranty by logging onto here.

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The Xerox Ducati World Superbike (WSB) rider and current championship leader used the design to celebrate his 250th WSB race start and to show his love for the historic race track and respect for the Italian fans.

The Drudi Performance design features a large outline of the Monza circuit map on the very top, surrounded by its geographical coordinates. On both sides of the helmet, Nori’s ‘NKI41’ logo is depicted in both the Japanese and Italian flags while a caricature of ‘Nitro Nori’ doing a wheelie on a tractor finishes the rear.

Only 200 of the helmets will be available and each one is included with a limited edition Haga design T-shirt, signed by the man himself.

The structural net composite (SNC) shell with peripheral belting and enhanced hyper ridge strengthening in the lower section represents Arai’s most advance design to date. Other benefits from the new construction include a larger opening to make the helmet more comfortable when putting it on and off and with the center of gravity moved lower, the helmet sits more naturally to help reduce fatigue.

Changes to the quick release visor have increased peripheral vision while the switches on the vents are now bigger, making them easier to operate wearing gloves. Between the trademark twin diffusers is now a five-position air wing, designed to reduce drag, turbulence and buffeting.

Available in sizes XS-XXL, orders for the RX-7 GP Haga Monza Limited Edition are being taken now with delivery expected in September 2009.

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Now, let’s get started on the helmet itself. First off, it has a polycarbonate composite shell. This helmet is DOT and Snell approved. The visor system on the helmet feels incredibly solid and none of the moving parts feel flimsy or like they might break. The visor pops into place all the way up and at the half way point. There is also a button on the side of the visor which locks it in place, when it is all the way down.

The inside of the helmet is very comfortable and even has removable lining. The vents even have nice little mesh overlays. The venting is also excellent on this helmet. They don’t go overboard with vents all over the helmet. They instead just have the few standard vents we have come to expect, but they make sure that all those vents work. And I can tell you that they work well.

They have the standard chin vent with the open/close and two vents on each side by the jaw and on the top with simple sliding covers. Like has already been said all the moving parts feel solid and are easy to open and close. There is also one last vent on the back of the head that contains a small reflector too which I thought was a nice little touch.

I also have to say the helmet is pretty quiet so far on the road but I haven’t got a chance to really air it out and test it. Overall, this is an excellent helmet and is an even sweeter deal when you consider the price point ($159-179 depending on color and design). It combines the price of entry level helmets with some of the perks of the high end helmets. So thumbs up to HJC on producing a quality helmet everyone can afford.

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Alex must have a keen sense to detail, because when he handed me a red ‘bufanda’ that was sent to Inline by Buff, he said it made him immediately think it was my style. I thought it was appropriate that I could mark this certain time in my life with another addition to my collection, with what is actually a very cool product. Yes, there are a billion manufactures out there that make every possible design imaginable, from skulls to flames and maybe the classic straight-black. I’m pretty sure you could have whatever you wanted put on one. To my luck, I got lucky by chance. I’m a fan of classic styles, and when you can put fly fishing lures, trout and paisley in one place, I’m sold.

The design is simple and works in apparently 12 different ways, so I guess the point is, that however you like to wear bandannas while riding, it’s possible because this product is versatile. The material, polyester micro-fiber, does its job well to keep wind off your neck, but I haven’t used it enough to test if the antibacterial quality will prevent it from getting funky. Stay tuned for a follow up review.

All together, the Buff scarf is a quality product and fundamental for colder climates for the likes of San Francisco. I’m a fan of the style and can see collecting a few more in the future.

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It uses a 2-layer Buff fabric which creates a natural air layer that provides additional warmth and wind protection. It also uses Buff’s patented WindStopper membrane to keep wind from hitting your skin, while the inner layer wick sweat away from your face to make sure you stay comfortable for the whole ride. There are 5 different ways you can use this product too! It can be used as a neckerchief to just protect your neck, a balaclava to stay as warm as possible, a bandanna to keep the top of your head comfy, a mask to warm your face and neck, or a sahariane to pull the sweat from your head and stay dry. I have used this on the cold morning rides to work and it is really nice to stay warm and keep all my bodies energy focused on the ride at hand. Keep a look out for the new Cyclone Buff, the original multi-functional head wear.

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It is a full 1.2-1.4mm leather grain construction for maximum abrasion resistance. It has a back panel
for a back protector as well as padding on the chest. It also comes with CE rated protective armor on the shoulders and elbows in case you go down. Alpinestars is known for fashionable gear and this is no
exception. It looks great and has the trademark A-Star logo on the front which kind of gives you that Superman look and feel. Hehe.

The jacket is very comfortable and has a removable liner on the inside, as well as two large vents on the shoulders, which direct air straight to your arms and chest and helps to keep you cool on those long hot days of riding. I have used this jacket for almost a year now and it has held up great, and continues to fit extremely well, making longer rides a breeze. As you all start to look at new gear for the warm weather riding season, don’t for get to check out Alpinestars and their SMK Leather Jacket.

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The jacket is made from 3/4 length 600 Denier Carbolex and 600 Denier Ballistic Polyester Shell which basically makes it a sturdy textile jacket with C.E. approved armor at the elbow and shoulder with a triple density back protector insert. I have not had to test out the armor (thank god), but I have tested out the breathable Rainguard waterproof barrier. It works really well in your average northern California storm, leaving every part of me dry underneath. It’s only in the major downpours and at higher speeds, that water will always seem to find a way inside around the waist section. This is to be expected with most “waterproof” gear unless you have a 1-piece suit. The amount of water that does get through is minimal and will certainly not ruin your ride if you are one of those crazy people like me who loves riding in the rain.

One of my favorite features of this jacket is how much room they give you for carrying all your goodies. There are two main pockets on the outside of the jacket, and one smaller pocket on the sleeve. The inside has two small pockets on the left side and two larger ones on the right, with a secret stash pocket built in right next to the zipper. It makes for carrying your cellphone, keys, wallet, and whatever else you keep with you a breeze! For night rides, there is also a Phoslite 360 degree strip of reflective tape that goes around the jacket and a reflective triangle with Tourmasters logo on the rear. I have had friends ride behind me at night and say that with out that jacket they would not have been able to see me!

Overall I believe that Tourmaster has created an excellent product with their Transition Series 2 Jacket.

Happy Riding!

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Being a new rider, I wasn’t sure if this was the norm or not, and I was unsure of how this would work out while actually riding. Fortunately, I can say my concerns were unfounded once I got on a bike and started riding. The thickness was not an issue at all, and they have also become more flexible after being broken in a little.

The Chicanes also have wrist guards, which are pretty large and wrap around your wrist. This is nice but can be kind of uncomfortable if you don’t strap them down correctly around your wrist. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since you should be wearing your gloves correctly anyway.

Aesthetically, the gloves look great. Nice colors. The armor over the knuckles is some kind of textile material but they have given it some silver bits in them to give it a kind of faux carbon fiber look, which is kind of cheesy if you ask me, but I am just nitpicking here.

Overall, this is a solid glove that I have no major complaints about, and I am pleased with how the product has performed so far. I’ll report back in a few months after some more usage.

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The inside of the gloves are made of polyester and are very comfortable. The palms have extra padding put in place to keep your hands comfy on those long rides. The SP2s also have fully vented fingers which makes them a great Spring and Summer riding gloves. I love Alpinestars and their gloves are of high quality. I am happy to own a pair of SP2s.

Until next time, ride safe!

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Now, if it will just rain on the days I have to go downtown…

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